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Desiring Light: Poems & Reflections
Desiring Light won the Daybreak Press Book Award 2021 in the Anthology/Collections category.
Desiring Light is Ameera Aslam's first collection of poetry & prose. They are about traversing the spiritual path in modern times, grief, hope and God's Overflowing Mercy.
Get a copy at desiringlightbook /dot/ com (Worldwide shipping)
"The outward tranquility of those who are seeking a spiritual path is something that many wish they could also embrace. But this tranquility does not tell the inner struggles that take place because the spiritual seekers do their work on the inside. They dig, excavate and turn their soul upside down in order to constantly free it of the vices of the soul – greed, anger, envy, lust, gluttony and so on. Being aware of their own ‘self’ and eliminating these vices is their objectives and by doing so seek to become closer to their Lord and to His Messenger.
Ameera Begum’s poems reflect this journey. When you meet her you will meet the outwardly calm, the dynamic activist and the selfless philanthropist. But you are unlikely to see the self-criticism, the self-reproach or the insecurities. The truthfulness Ameera expresses in her poems is a reflection of the turbulences of the inner journey, a journey we are not used to hearing in a 21st century language.
It is a voice that reflects the multitude of emotions the seeker feels, the spiritual vulnerability as well as the spiritual ecstasy.
If you are on this path, or wish to be, you may just see yourself in Ameera’s poems."
- Humera Khan, Activist, An-Nisa Society, London.
Desiring Light is Ameera Aslam's first collection of poetry & prose. They are about traversing the spiritual path in modern times, grief, hope and God's Overflowing Mercy.
Get a copy at desiringlightbook /dot/ com (Worldwide shipping)
"The outward tranquility of those who are seeking a spiritual path is something that many wish they could also embrace. But this tranquility does not tell the inner struggles that take place because the spiritual seekers do their work on the inside. They dig, excavate and turn their soul upside down in order to constantly free it of the vices of the soul – greed, anger, envy, lust, gluttony and so on. Being aware of their own ‘self’ and eliminating these vices is their objectives and by doing so seek to become closer to their Lord and to His Messenger.
Ameera Begum’s poems reflect this journey. When you meet her you will meet the outwardly calm, the dynamic activist and the selfless philanthropist. But you are unlikely to see the self-criticism, the self-reproach or the insecurities. The truthfulness Ameera expresses in her poems is a reflection of the turbulences of the inner journey, a journey we are not used to hearing in a 21st century language.
It is a voice that reflects the multitude of emotions the seeker feels, the spiritual vulnerability as well as the spiritual ecstasy.
If you are on this path, or wish to be, you may just see yourself in Ameera’s poems."
- Humera Khan, Activist, An-Nisa Society, London.
132 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 8, 2021
This book contained so many gems that I either want to refer back to or that resonated with me so much, that by the time I was done reading, there was a rainbow of sticky notes in it!
June 5, 2023
I love this book for two reasons. First, I love how the author is so honest about her rough journey of discovering the path of spirituality. Second, she made me miss the month of Ramadhan so much.
We all know that the journey to find Allah is not easy, but starting with the right intention is so important. The role of the right teacher is also as important as the journey itself. May all of us find our way home, our real home, in the hereafter.
We all know that the journey to find Allah is not easy, but starting with the right intention is so important. The role of the right teacher is also as important as the journey itself. May all of us find our way home, our real home, in the hereafter.
April 22, 2021
"God teaches me by opposites
I only knew love when grief consumed me
I only knew faith when doubt ruined me
I only knew Him when I lost me
and I know Him more the more I know me" - Desiring Light by Ameera Aslam
I have been following Ameera on Instagram for quite some time, and I love the succinct yet sentimental nature of her words. Her poems have always intrigued and inspired me. And this collection of poems and reflections echo the same nuance of her posts.
In Desiring Light, her poems are unapologetic, raw and honest, yet it reflects the vulnerability and weakness of every struggling soul. It is as much about seeking light as it is about being in the darkness. Ameera juxtaposed the elements of two extremes so seamlessly, and watching the progression of her thought processes over the years is such an illuminating experience. You can see and feel the dedication and determination of a struggling soul, from her hijrah journey to her Ramadan Ruminations. MashaAllah, what a journey you take us on, Ameera.
I have always said, that I have a complicated relationship with poetry (I am more of a prose person, but I love poetry. I am just unsure of how much poetry loves me). So I am very selective about the poetry I read. Yet Ameera's poetry is one of those verses that hits the nail in the head. It is written when the poet is in her natural element - she is gutsy yet afraid, she is spiritual yet emotional, she is energetic yet exhausted - all these emotions burgeoning from the weight of the world, that she can only let out through poetry. Thank you, dear Ameera, for your lovely words. We await so much more from a talented soul like you.
I only knew love when grief consumed me
I only knew faith when doubt ruined me
I only knew Him when I lost me
and I know Him more the more I know me" - Desiring Light by Ameera Aslam
I have been following Ameera on Instagram for quite some time, and I love the succinct yet sentimental nature of her words. Her poems have always intrigued and inspired me. And this collection of poems and reflections echo the same nuance of her posts.
In Desiring Light, her poems are unapologetic, raw and honest, yet it reflects the vulnerability and weakness of every struggling soul. It is as much about seeking light as it is about being in the darkness. Ameera juxtaposed the elements of two extremes so seamlessly, and watching the progression of her thought processes over the years is such an illuminating experience. You can see and feel the dedication and determination of a struggling soul, from her hijrah journey to her Ramadan Ruminations. MashaAllah, what a journey you take us on, Ameera.
I have always said, that I have a complicated relationship with poetry (I am more of a prose person, but I love poetry. I am just unsure of how much poetry loves me). So I am very selective about the poetry I read. Yet Ameera's poetry is one of those verses that hits the nail in the head. It is written when the poet is in her natural element - she is gutsy yet afraid, she is spiritual yet emotional, she is energetic yet exhausted - all these emotions burgeoning from the weight of the world, that she can only let out through poetry. Thank you, dear Ameera, for your lovely words. We await so much more from a talented soul like you.
September 14, 2020
Absolutely amazing! Desiring Light took me on a spiritual journey and gave me plenty to think about. I was so moved by every poem and reflection.
November 7, 2020
The listings and entries that was written in this book was well thought out. Could picture that the author was going through life in a difficult way but along the way tried her best to change and be better. Sharing these could help people who might be in the same shoes. I love the renumerations on ramadhan where each day we are able to learn something fruitful on the holy month.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews